Supreme Court to hear plea challenging Stage-I Forest Clearance and wildlife clearance granted for the improvement and expansion of the road, leading to felling of trees in Dehradun.
Earlier, the Central Government had informed the Supreme Court that the widening of road on an existing 20 km stretch of NH-72A between Ganeshpur and Dehradun is required due to the ongoing problems at the northern border with China.
Senior Advocate Anitha Shenoy appearing for the petitioner. Referring to the NGT order dismissing the application filed in furtherance of the earlier Supreme Court order directing the petitioners to approach NGT.
Shenoy submitted that, there is no State Government's order under section 2, they have to pass such an order before starting the tree cutting.
The RTI reply said that there is not order, then under what order are they cutting trees.
As an result I can't file an appeal, Shenoy added.
Justice Chandrachud: So, according to you until unless there is an order from the state, no tree cutting can take place?
Shenoy: Yes Milords! We have enough photographs.
Justice Chandrachud: but they have an stage one clearance, then there is no illegality in this as such.
Shenoy said, But Milords, there has to be an State Government order.
Attorney General KK Venugopal: Referring to the Counter filed by the NHAI.
Court- We'll hold it for a while, by the time the registry arranges the Counter affidavit.
We'll have it tomorrow.
